Batman: The Long Halloween #5: Valentine's Day

Quick answer

Batman: The Long Halloween #5: Valentine's Day is cataloged as part of the The Long Halloween reading path, giving readers a specific checkpoint in that storyline rather than a generic issue listing. Gotham Vault connects it to Batman (Bruce Wayne), Catwoman (Selina Kyle), Commissioner Gordon (James Gordon), Alfred Pennyworth, Batman: The Long Halloween, and the broader 1997-04-01 Batman publication timeline.

Issue summary

The story opens with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent arriving at Wayne manor. Alfred informs them that mister Wayne is not home and may not be back for some time. Dent is intentionally abrasive towards Alfred. He obviously intends to wait it out until Alfred reminds them that it is Valentine’s Day. Gordon and Dent suddenly remember that neither of them has gotten anything for their wives and immediately depart. The Roman is visiting the grave of his son Alberto. Batman confronts him, asking if his lifestyle is worth all of the lives he has destroyed. Falcone becomes enraged and points a gun at Batman. Catwoman appears and strikes Falcone’s gun hand with one of her bolos. Batman is curious about any possible connection between her and the Falcone crime organization. He chases her down in the snowy cemetery and they have a brief exchange of words. Bruce Wayne meets Selina Kyle at the opera. A peddler comes by selling roses. Selina buys one for Bruce. The rose pricks his finger. Somehow neither Wayne or Kyle notice that the green-robed vendor has extremely pale skin and has leaves coming out the back of her robe where a normal woman would have hair. Salvadore Maroni pays out Dent’s assistant Vernon in the kitchen of his restaurant. Meanwhile, in front of the restaurant, the security that Maroni hired to stand outside have decided to sit in a car to avoid the cold. The car full of…

Characters listed for this issue

Batman (Bruce Wayne)The Dark Knight of Gotham. Billionaire by day, vigilante by night. No superpowers, just iron…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Catwoman (Selina Kyle)The world's greatest thief with a heart of... well, sometimes gold. Walks the line between h…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Commissioner Gordon (James Gordon)The one good cop in a corrupt city. Keeps the GCPD running and the Bat-Signal lit. Never los…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Alfred PennyworthThe man who raised Batman. Ex-SAS, current butler, permanent father figure. The only one who…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Two-Face (Harvey Dent)Harvey Dent was Gotham's white knight DA until acid and a bad day turned him into something …VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley)Pamela Isley doesn't care about your laws — she cares about the green. Will absolutely kill …VIEW APPEARANCES ›